The Boston Red Sox sign teenage sensation Carl Yastrzemski to a reported bonus of $100,000. The future Hall of Famer will make his major league debut with Boston in three years.
The American League announces Opening Day will be on April 9th, the earliest date the Junior Circuit has ever started the regular season. After President Eisenhower throws out the ceremonial first pitch, the Senators will go on to beat the Orioles, 9-2, in the traditional opener played in Washington D.C.’s Griffith Stadium.
1958 – The American League MVP is Boston Red Sox slugger Jackie Jensen, winning over Yankees pitcher Bob Turley and Indians outfielder Rocky Colavito.
1958 – The Baseball Writers Association of America names Chicago Cubs slugger Ernie Banks as the National League Most Valuable Player. Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants is the runner-up.
On November 21, 1958, Hall of Famer Mel Ott dies at the age of 49 from injuries sustained in a traffic accident. Ott batted .304 with 511 home runs over a 22-year career with the New York Giants.@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IGp1c3QgY2xpY2sgdGhlIHRhZ3MhICAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImxpbmtfdG9fdGVybV9wYWdlIjoib24iLCJzZXBhcmF0b3IiOiIgfCAiLCJjYXRlZ29yeV90eXBlIjoicG9zdF90YWcifX0=@
1958 – The Detroit Tigers trade infielder Billy Martin and starter Al Cicotte to the Cleveland Indians for relievers Ray Narleski and Don Mossi and shortstop Ossie Alvarez.
Cleveland Indians minority stockholders, led by Hank Greenberg, sell their parts to the majority stockholder, Chairman William Delay, who controls about 34 percent of the stock.
Milwaukee Braves second baseman Red Schoendienst is diagnosed as having tuberculosis. He will appear in just five games in 1959 as a result.
1958 – Mayor Robert Wagner of New York announces preliminary plans for a third major league. Chairman William Shea, of what will become the Continental League, says it is apparent that the National League is going to ignore New York City. He implies that the new league will be free to raid major league rosters.
1958 – New York Yankees pitcher Bob Turley, who had 21 wins and 19 complete games, is named the Cy Young Award winner. With only one award given for the two leagues, Turley gathers five votes to four for last year’s winner, the Milwaukee Braves’ Warren Spahn.